Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
November 24, 1864

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer
November 25, 1864

Thursday was about the most generally observed Thanksgiving day we recollect to have witnessed for a long time. All business was suspended, with the exception of the work upon two or three buildings, which, owing to the lateness of the season, were compelled to go on. We suppose, however, they observed it mentally. Services were held in all the churches. A synopsis of several of the discourses will be found in this morning's paper. Of the discourse delivered in the Second Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. John Moffat, and of several others, we were unable to obtain a report.

Services appropriate to the day were had at the General Hospital, in North Wheeling, and an excellent discourse delivered by Chaplain D. Trueman.

In the evening all the soldiers in the city, according to arrangement, assembled in Washington Hall, to partake of the magnificent supper provided by the citizens. A very large number of citizens were also present, so that the house was literally jammed full. Some little disturbance occurred in the early part of the evening between one or two soldiers of different regiments, but as officers and men were determined that nothing should disturb the harmony and good feeling of the occasion, the disturbance was quelled in a moment or two and everything went on merry as a marriage bell. On the south side of the house a table was set which literally groaned with fruits and confectionaries, where a number of ladies, fair and patriotic, with winning smiles, brought many customers for their good things. We should say their sales amounted to a handsome sum.

Major Stevens in a neat little address, an epitome of its history, returned the old flag of the 1st West Virginia regiment into the hands of the Governor. Curtailed of its fair proportions; rent in pieces by the clash of many battles, it is a fit semblance of the war-worn veterans who carried it aloft in victory and in defeat, and never derailed it in disgrace. The Governor relieved it with a few brief but stirring words. We would not do him the injustice to attempt a report. His allusions to the gallant leader into whose hands it was first consigned, and who sleeps in the green slopes of Mt. Wood, were received with deafening cheers by the soldiers and the citizens. The Mechanics' Brass Band was present, and also a glee club, and varied the entertainment with music, instrumental and vocal. We think everybody was and had reason to be well satisfied with the entertainment.